Ophthalmology & Visual Science

Upon completing a DDS from the University of Pernambuco-Brazil in 2000, Dr. Albuquerque joined the residency and Masters Degree Program in the Orofacial Pain Center at the University of Kentucky. After completing his residency, he aspired to become a physician-scientist and gained acceptance to the UK MD/PhD program. Romulo's previous research experiences are in the field of orofacial pain epidemiology and functional neuroimaging studies. He joined the Ambati Lab in 2005. In 2006, Dr. Albuquerque was awarded a RPB Medical Student Fellowship to study the role of soluble VEGFR-1 in corneal avascularity. Romulo's research efforts have focused on the discovery and characterization of soluble VEGFR2 a specific inhibitor of lymphangiogenesis for which he was awarded a Fight for Sight Post-Doctoral Award in 2008. The absence of lymphatic vessels in the cornea is partly responsible for its immunological privilege, which is critical for the success of corneal transplantation.